The overall goal of this initiative is to develop fundamental knowledge of ash behavior in power systems for the purpose of increasing power production efficiency, reducing operation and maintenance costs, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The specific objectives of this initiative focus primarily on ash behavior related to advanced power systems and include the following: � Determine the current status of the fundamental ash interactions and deposition formation mechanisms as already reported through previous or ongoing projects at the EERC or in the literature. � Determine sintering mechanisms for temperatures and particle compositions that are less well known and remain for the most part undetermined. � Identify the relationship between the temperature of critical viscosity (T cv ) as measured in a viscometer and the crystallization occurring in the melt. � Perform a literature search on the use of heated-stage microscopy (HSM) for examining in situ ash-sintering phenomena and then validate the use of HSM in the determination of viscosity in spherical ash particles. � Ascertain the formation and stability of specific mineral or amorphous phases in deposits typical of advanced power systems. � Evaluate corrosion for alloys being used in supercritical combustion systems.